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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. - Hurricane Sandy’s ferocity caused a wide swath of destruction in Fairfield County and the entire region. But in the aftermath of chaos, there is art.

The organizers of an upcoming art exhibition, “Who Has Seen The Wind,” invite all amateur and professional photographers to submit their
Hurricane Sandy
photos.

“The call is open,” said Kathleen Reckling, director of ArtsWestchester Gallery in White Plains, which will host the exhibit in early spring. Fairfield County entries are welcome and encouraged, she said.

Reckling added the gallery is accepting photographs from “anyone who went out with a camera or mobile device and captured Sandy’s destruction or the community’s response to it.”

This, she said, extends to “everyday heroes who handled out blankets, as well as to the men and women in uniform who protected our neighborhoods and those on the cleanup crews who removed debris and downed trees.”

As far as inspiration for the show, Janet Langsam, ArtsWestcher’s chief executive officer, said, “My town was a mess after the storm. I took photographs and it occurred to me that everyone must have been out taking photographs.” Langsam had just completed her weekly blog post, this one about witnessing the storm, when it occurred to her she felt conflicting emotions of “at once being captivated by its beauty and fearful of its power.” She titled that posting, “Who Has Seen the Wind,” which then became the jumping off point for the nascent exhibition.

Reckling stated, “Sandy was a once-in-a-lifetime event; a natural disaster the region had never before ever witnessed.” While some people lost power for short period of time, others lost so much more, she said.

The exhibition will be an assemblage of individuals’ stories from across the storm-ravaged area. “We hope that in coming together to share our experiences of Sandy’s destruction, as well as those of the cleanup, we can help the community heal and rebuild,” Reckling said.

Photographers may submit up to five images for consideration. The name of photographer and image title must be in the file name of submitted photographs.

Submission deadline is Jan. 25, 2013. Photographers will be notified of chosen works by Feb. 15.